(Sestri Levante, Italy)- This year's J/80 Italian National Championships hosted in Sestri Levante saw a good fleet of eleven teams participating from Italy, Poland and Germany. The three day regatta saw an enormous variety of weather conditions challenge the fleet, from 15 to 30 kt winds on the first day to freezing cold on the second day to epic, beautiful weather for the finale on Sunday.Friday's racing saw southerly breezes gusting over 20 kts with tough conditions sailing upwind in the puffy winds, but fantastic planing conditions downwind for the fleet! After three races the fleet was exhausted. After the first day's racing, it was RAPISARDI skippered by Taito Sanchez that was leading, following by the Polish team on MOONRAKER and in third was BLUE 8 (their first regatta in J/80s). After all the heavy duty sailing, the crews retired to the nearby Yacht Club Chiavari for the evening for excellent local Italian food, delicious wines and evening entertainment.
The
second day of racing was very special for many sailors. It was
overcast, cold, with snow on the mountains in the hinterlands. And, the
big waves/swell came from the southwest with 15-18 kt winds at
approximately 300 degrees. In the end, it became a perfect day for
sailing! Three races more beautiful and more competitive than the one
before. The first race was won by JENIALE skippered by Massimo Rama,
followed by RAPISARDI and the Polish team of Pawel Boksa. After three
races, the team of Taito Sanchez was still leading, chased by a group of
teams that included MOONRAKER, JENIALE!, J-BLUE 8 and MONTPRES PAUL
MONTEDONICO. After the second day of sailing, the evening dinner on the
promenade of Sestri for all crews was lots of fun.For the final day of sailing on Sunday, the Tigullio Bay was amazing- sun, waves, gentle southerly breezes of 10-12 kts. Perfect. The Race Committee started on time and managed to produce three races! In the end, JENIALE! managed to get three firsts to secure their third J/80 Italian Championship. Congratulations to Rama's crew with Anne-Soizic Bertin, Eva Gonzalez, Pier Giorgio and Cristina Matteini. Next step for the top Italians teams is the J/80 Worlds in July sailing in Marseille, France! For more J/80 Italian Nationals sailing information
